Capital Equipment News October 2016

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Volvo CE has showcased a range of futuristic concepts and innovations driving digitalisation and electromobility.

MACHINES OF THE FUTURE

With a range of futuristic concepts ranging from electromobility to intelligent machines and total site solutions, Volvo Construction Equipment has demonstrated the future may not be so far away after all, writes Munesu Shoko.

Intelligent machines For its strides in intelligent machines, Volvo CE has unveiled a prototype autonomous wheel loader and articulated wheel loader working together. The two are standard Volvo products – an L120 wheel loader and an A25F articulated hauler – which Jenny Elfsberg, director of emerging technologies at Volvo CE, says have been upgraded with autonomous technology. The demonstration machines were programmed to work and carry out a specific set of load and haul actions on a pre-defined route. “The machines can perform the same task over and over again, along a fixed route, for a relatively long period of time,” says Elfsberg. Elfsburg says autonomous machines will definitely increase safety in hazardous working environments and eliminate the possibility of accidents caused by human error. According to industry statistics, 94% of accidents on sites are caused by the operator. Volvo CE’s new innovations are said to be 10x safer, according to the OEM’s research. “They will perform repetitive tasks more efficiently and precisely than a human operator and, because machines will be operated in the most efficient way, customers will benefit from improved performance, productivity, fuel efficiency and productivity,” says Elfsburg. She also reasons that in future, there may be potential to have one operator for three or four machines, increasing productivity and further decreasing costs. For example, in an hour comparison, it was found that the autonomous wheel loader

D igitalisation and electromo- bility have been dubbed meg- atrends of the future as orig- inal equipment manufacturers (OEMs) continue to explore ground-breaking technologies that have the potential to transform the industry by unlock- ing new ways of managing variability, enhanc- ing productivity on sites and taking people out of harm’s way. With that in mind, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), under the Volvo Group’s Volvo Concept Lab, has showcased a range of futuristic concepts and innovations driv- ing digitalisation and electromobility. The futuristic innovations are spectacular visions of autonomous and electrical machines of tomorrow and illustrate the fascinating pos- sibilities of how OEMs can create machines that are safer, cleaner and more efficient, in every sense of the words. At its Xploration Forum, recently held in Eskilstuna, Sweden, Volvo CE demonstrated to a group of global customers and interna- tional media the strides it has made in elec- tomobility, intelligent machines and total site solutions over the past 10 years. The innovations on display comprised the LX1,

a prototype wheel loader said to have the potential to improve fuel efficiency by up to 50%; a prototype autonomous wheel loader and articulated hauler working together; as well as an electric site solution that show- cased the new concept HX1, an autonomous, battery-electric and cab-less load carrier. “In line with the Volvo Group’s vision to be the most desired and successful transport provider in the world, Volvo CE is committed to contributing to sustainable development,” says Martin Weissburg, president of Volvo CE. “We are developing technologies linked to electromobility, intelligent machines and total site solutions that will benefit our cus- tomers and the environment by contributing to increased machine performance, produc- tivity, efficiency, safety and sustainability.” Weissburg says Volvo CE has set itself four key technology challenges dubbed Triple Zero and 10x: zero emissions, zero accidents, zero unplanned stops and 10x higher efficiency. He believes that the company’s clear focus on elecromobility, intelligent machines and total site solutions will help it achieve these seemingly ambitious goals and pave the way for a sustainable construction industry.

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